We believe Scripture is true because God’s Son affirmed it. Once Jesus is authenticated as a messenger from God and establishes Scripture to be infallibly true, we know that Jesus is proven to be the Christ, who redeems sinful man, because Scripture declares it.
The reliable witness accounts of Jesus show He is God’s Son
It doesn’t require circular reasoning to prove that Jesus is who He claimed to be–the Son of God. Some theologians make the error by reasoning from the Word of God to the Son of God and back to the Word of God.
They begin with assuming that the Word of God is infallible and inerrant. And the Bible does teach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. But, how do we know the Bible is the Word of God in the first place? The argument is that it’s true because the Son of God said it’s true, which of course He does. But do you see the fallacy in this form of circular reasoning? We first assume the unproven premise that the Bible is God’s Word to reach the conclusion that it is. It’s an academic chasing of one’s tail.
If God’s Son tells us the Bible is God’s Word, we know it is
The real argument should be revised to say that the Word of Man proves that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and if the Son of God tells us that the Word of Man is the Word of God, then we know it’s true.
Let’s begin with the Bible as being just another historic, religious document. It was written within the lifetime of the people whose story it tells, not only about Jesus but about Herod and Pilate and the other people living in Israel in those day. We can also tell that the accounts are reliable, human documents. The gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which tell the story about the life of Christ, were written beginning about 50 AD, about 20 years after the death of Jesus. And everyone grants that in the intervening years, the oral gospel circulated.
These reliable, historical documents tells us that Jesus performed miracles. Now, some people will deny the possibility of miracles, but if God exists and He wants to behave in a particular, out-of-the-ordinary manner, why couldn’t He do so? All we need is credible evidence of the miracles that Jesus performed, and we have that evidence.
These documents are early documents, He did live, He wasn’t a lunatic. He went around talking soberly and having a profound influence for doing good, but He also healed the sick, raised the dead, opened blind eyes, cast out demons, calmed the storm, and much more.
Jesus’ documented miracles prove His claim of Deity to be true
This, by itself, wouldn’t prove that Jesus is the Son of God. Others have done miracles, including Moses, Elijah, Peter and Paul. But, we don’t think they are deity. So, what’s the difference between Jesus and these other authentic miracle workers? The difference is that they didn’t claim deity; they claimed it for Jesus Christ. And Jesus accepted it. When people worshipped Him, He permitted it, He also demanded it when He said “I and the Father are One”.
The miracles show that Jesus had the power of God. It doesn’t show He was God. But, it does show He was a commissioned messenger of God. He couldn’t get that power from God unless He was to be a true spokesman for God. So, when He claims to be God by saying “He who has seen me has seen the Father”, you know that in Him you see the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily. He Himself is God.
So, the Word of Man leads us to the Son of God, and the Son of God tells us that this Word of Man is no mere Word of Man, but is the Word of God. Therefore, we know full well it is the Word of God. The Word of God proves the Son of God once the Son of God proves the Bible to be the Word of God. There is no fatal, circular reasoning in this way of thinking.
Since God doesn’t err, the God’s Word cannot contain errors
Some might raise an objection by asking, “How can you believe the Bible when it contains so many errors?” I would agree that if it did contain errors, it can’t be the Word of God because God cannot make an error. However, what some would consider errors aren’t really errors at all.
If there are any error in the original manuscripts, that’s all we would need to dismiss it as a human document. However, nobody has ever proven an alleged error to be a real mistake at all. We can trust it to be God’s true Word to mankind.
Jesus came to save sinners like you and me
Without Jesus taking our place to suffer and die for the punishment of our sin, we would be left without hope. Have you received God’s mercy, which is given to everyone who believes and trusts in Christ alone?
Ask yourself two very important questions. First, are you sure that you’ll go to heaven when you die? Secondly, are you certain why God should let you into heaven? If you don’t know for sure, you can settle that matter today. Visit my post, How to Begin Your Life Over Again and you’ll know where and how you’ll spend eternity.
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